John k



ADJUSTABLE CATCH PLATE ORSTRIKER. No. 512,244. Patented Jan. 2, I894.

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JOHN K. CLARK AND HENRY R. CLARK, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CLARK MANUFACTURING CO., OF SAME PLACE.

ADJUSTABLE CATCH-PLATE OR STRIKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,244, dated January 2, 1894.

Serial 110.486.9538. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN K. CLARK and HENRY R. CLARK, citizens of the United States, residing at Bufialo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Catch-Plates or Strikers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improved adjustable catch or striker for latches or latch-locks, whereby the catch-plate or striker can be adjusted by a simple rotary motion for the purpose of compensating for swelling or shrinking of the door or door-frame, and insuring the correct engagement of the latch with the catch or striker to secure the perfect closure of the door, in order to exclude the external atmosphere and prevent the escape of cold from within.

To accomplish this object our invention consists essentially in the combination with a suitable striker frame or support, of a rotatable cam-faced striker which is adapted to be rotated on a suitable axis for the purpose of adjusting the cam face to properly engage the latch if the door or door-frame shrinks or swells, thereby obtaining a perfect closure of the door to exclude the external atmosphere and prevent the escape of cold from within.

The invention also consists in certain features of construction and combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved catch or striker arranged in operative connection with a rim latch-lock, such as is used on a refrigerator door. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the catch or striker and its carrying frame or support. Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view of the same; and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view looking at the spiral cam face of the rotary catch or striker.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein- Thenumeral 1 indicates thecaseof thelatchhold the door in its closed position.

lock; 2 the latch, and 3 the handle by which the latch is operated. These parts may be of any construction suitable for the conditions required, but preferably they are arranged in the form of a rim latch-lock adapted to be se cured to the outer surface of a door, so that the latch can engage and disengage the catch or striker which is secured to the outer surface of the door frame.

The catch or striker frame or support is composed of a base-plate 4:, from which extends a lateral projection 5, preferably circular in cross section, but not necessarily so. The upper side of the projection 5 is cut away on an inclined plane, as at 6, to provide space for the proper engagement of the latch 2 with the catch or striker 7 which is carried by the striker-frame or support.

The catch or striker is preferably in the form of a disk, but its outline may be varied to some extent. The outer surface of the disk is convex, as at 8, to provide the desired inclined surface, against which the inclined nose of the latch strikes, in order that the latter will be automatically lifted over the catch or striker and fall behind the same to The inner side of the disk is in the form of a cam, and, as here shown, this cam is spirally shaped, its lowest point being at 9, from whence it gradually increases in elevation to the point 12.

The disk is provided at its center with an orifice 13 to receive a'screw 14 which screws into a solid portion 15 in the center of the lateral projection 5, so that the inner side of the disk can be rigidly clamped against the outer end of the said projection by tightening the screw.

In order to adjust the catch or striker for the purpose of obtaining a perfect closure of the door and a proper engagement of the latch with the catch or striker, the screw 14: can be loosened and the catch or striker rotated in the proper direction to cause its spiral 5 cam face to so act upon the latch that the latter will hold the door in a perfectly closed position. If the door, or any other part of the wooden structure should swell so that the latch cannot properly engage the catch or striker, 10c

the latter can be rotated into the required position for the proper engagement of the latch with the spiral cam face.

The construction described and shown is simple and economical, and the screw and catch or striker are so located and arranged that the catch or striker can be adjusted to the required position after the latch has been engaged with the catch or striker.

We prefer to rigidly clamp the rotary catch or striker in its position of adjustment through the medium of the screwl4. which constitutes the pivot on which the catch or striker rotates; but we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to this specific construction, as other means may be provided for holding the catch or striker in a fixed position afer it has been rotated to the desired position.

By providing a rotary catch or striker with a spiral or similar cam face at its inner side,-

it is possible to increase or diminish the space between the base of the striker frame or support and the surface of the catch or striker, so that it is always possible to insure the proper engagement of the latch and the perfect closure of the door.

The device is particularly designed for refrigerators, but will be found useful for many other purposes not necessary to enumerate.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. The combination with a striker frame adapted to be attached to a door frame and having a lateral projection, of a rotatable catch or striker journaled upon the lateral projection of the striker frame and with the rear face of which the latch engages, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a striker frame, of a rotatable catch-or striker journaled upon the striker frame and having a cam-shaped inner face with which the latch engages, and means for holding the catch or striker in a fixed position after it has been rotated to compensate for shrinking or swelling,'substantially as described.

3. The combination with a striker-frame having a lateral projection, of a rotatable catch or striker journaled upon the lateral projection of the striker frame and having a cam-shaped inner face with which the latch engages, and a screw for holding the catch or striker in a fixed position after it has been rotated to compensate for shrinking or swelling, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a suitable striker frame or support having alateral projection, of a rotatable catch or striker composed of a disk having a convex outer surface and a spiral cam-faced inner surface, and means for holding the catch or striker in a fixed position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN K. CLARK. HENRY R. CLARK.

VVi t n esses:

KIMBALL'V. CLARK, ALFRED HENNINGHAM. 

